And in his former guise as the club's European scout, Clarke also tried to sign Thierry Henry, Mario Melchiot and Boudewijn Zenden.

Speaking on the www.ccfc.co.uk website, Clarke said: "We tried to buy Van Nistelrooy four years ago.

"I watched him as a 20-year-old and recommended him to the club. Unfortunately we could not clinch the deal and now he has joined Manchester United for #24 million.

"I spotted Henry as a 20-year-old playing for a French second division club and I tracked him. Gordon Strachan went over to watch him, but we could not do the deal and he is now at Arsenal.

"Bear in mind we were watching all these players when they were youngsters and had not attracted the attention of the top clubs."

Zenden, Melchiot, Freddie Ljungberg and Erik Bakke were also targets that never bore fruit for City as Clarke scoured the whole of Europe searching for talent that, at the time, would befit the Premiership.

He was recalled to England in the summer and is now helping Roland Nilsson and Richard Money run team affairs since the departure of Strachan.

Clarke said: "I will do whatever I can to help the club. Everyone here must put their shoulders to the wheel to support Roland in any way they can."